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1964 w. E. GOUDY ROTARYHYDRAULIGPOWER DEVICES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 9, 1959 INVENTOR WILL/AM E GOUD) ATTORNEY Jan. 21, 1964 w. E. GOUDY ROTARY HYDRAULIC POWER DEVICES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 9, 1959 FIG. 2

R mm EU WM. 5 M M L m ATTORNEY Jan. 21, 1964 w. E. GOUDY 3,118,279

ROTARY HYDRAULIC POWER DEVICES Filed Dec. 9, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 4

COOLER 67 FIG. 5.

.SUMP 5 J) I INVENTOR WILL/AM E. Gal/0y TTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,118,229 Patented Jan. 21, 1964 This invention relates to rotary hydraulic power devices and particuiarly to improvements, in such devices, for effecting flow of fluid from the working circuit thereof to an external point, such action being, for example, in dumping the power device or in circulating the hydraulic fluid through a cooler.

It is well known that, in rotary hydraulic power devices, differences in hydraulic pressure occur, during operation of the device, between various points in the working circuit. Thus, it is well known that a zone of higher pressure exists at the output side of the impeller. Prior art workers have attempted to capitalize on the existence of such high pressure zone to accomplish removal of fluid from the working circuit. Attempts to employ suc high pressure to induce a desired flow or circulation of fluid in a path located externally of the working circuit have not, however, been entirely successful.

A general object of the invention is to provide, in a rotary hydraulic power device, improved means for capitalizing upon such a high pressure zone in the working circuit to accomplish circulation of the hydraulic fluid from the circuit to some external means, such as a cooler, when the fluid is to be continuously cooled, or to a sump for dumping of the power device.

Another object is to devise an improved hydraulic torque converter of the type comprising at least an impeller, a turbine runner, and a stator, with such elements being effective to accomplish flow of the hydraulic fluid in a generally toroidal working circuit extending about a hollow core ring, the construction being such that the high fluid pressure existing on the output side of the impeller is eifective to cause flow of fluid from the working circuit to an exterior point via the interior of the hollow core ring.

A further object is to provide, in such a torque converter, an improved core ring structure specially adapted to make more effective use of the high pressure at the output side of the impeller for inducing fluid fiow from the working circuit to an area located externaily thereof.

Yet another object is to devise a novel stator element construction for hydraulic torque converters.

In order that the manner in which these and other objects are attained, in accordance with the invention, can be understood in detail, reference is had to the accomp ahying drawings, which form a part of L118 specification and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, with some parts shown in elevation, of a hydraulic torque converter constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end face view of the stator of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view illustrating a part of the device of FIG. 1 in modified form;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to FIG. 3, illustrating a further modification, and

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view, smaller in scale than FIG. 1, illustrating hydraulic circuit means employed in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and first to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention here illustrated comprises a rotary power input assembly indicated generally at 1, a rotary power output assembly indicated generally at 2 and a fixed stator assembly indicated generally at 3.

The stator assembly comprises a fixed tubular member 4, an annular housing 5 and an annular vaned stator member 6. The member 4 is disposed concentrically about the output shaft 7 and has an enlarged end portion 8 in which is mounted a suitable bearing 9 for the output shaft. inwardly of the device, the member 4 includes a tubular shank, the tip of which closely embraces the shaft 7, the intermediate portion of member 4 being spaced from the shaft 7 to provide a cylindrical chamber it? concentric with shaft 7. At the end of the member 4 opposite the bearing 9, a labyrinth seal is provided at 11 to seal one end of the chamber 10. On the other side of the bearing 9, a suitable conventional seal 12 is provided. The member 4 is also provided with a second annular chamber 13 disposed outwardly of the chamber 10.

Rigidly fixed to the tubular shank 14 of the member 4 is the hub 15 of the vaned stator element 6. The stator element 6 includes a first annular web 16 which, as will be apparent from later description, defines a part of the outer wall of the toroidal working circuit of the torque converter. Disposed outwardly of the web 16 is a second annular Web 17 constituting one core ring-defining eleent. The usual generally radial stator vanes 18 extend between the webs 16 and 17.

The power input assembly 1 includes an annular vaned pump impeller indicated generally at 19. The outer shroud element of the impeller has an inner edge portion 21 fixed, as by means of bolts or other suitable means, to radial flange 22 of rotary annular element 23. Inwardly of flange 22, the element 23 carries a cylindrical portion 24, the tip of which extends into an annular chamber 25 provided in member 4 concentric with shaft 7. A suitable ring seal, indicated at 26, is provided between the inner cylindrical surface of portion 24 and a cooperating cylindrical surface on the member 4. A

' conventional spring-pressed seal 27 is mounted in the chamber 25 and engages the outer cylindrical surface of portion 24. Between web 16 of the stator element 6 and the tubular shank of member 4, member 23 carries a ported annular flange 28, the inner periphery of which retains the outer race of antifriction bearing 29.

As is usual practice in torque converters of this type, a radial space 30 is provided between web 16 of the stator element and inner edge portion 21 of the outer wall of impeller 19. The annular flange 28 is provided with a plurality of ports 31, so that the toroidal working circuit of the torque converter is in communication with chamber 13 via the ports 31.

The impeller 19 includes the usual working vanes 32 and an inner annular wall 33 which, like web 17 of the stator element, partly defines the core ring. At its outer periphery, the outer wall or shroud 20 of the impeller carries a circular outwardly directed flange 34, bolted or otherwise suitably connected to an annular shroud member 35. The member 35 has an inner hub 36 fixed 3 to a dished flange 37 which is integral with the power input stub shaft 38. A suitable conventional roller bearing 3 is provided between the hub 3-6 and the tip 40 of shaft '7.

The shaft 7 carries a transverse circular disc 41 to the outer portion of which is fixed the inner flange 42 of outer wall or shroud 43 of turbine runner 44. Outer wall 43 of the turbine runner, like web 16 of the stator and outer Wall 29 of the impeller, defines a part of the generally toroidal working circuit. Thus, the outer wall 43 extends to an outer peripheral portion 45 spaced slightly inwardly of member 35 and spaced axially from the outer edge portion of outer wall 20 of the impeller, as seen at ed.

The turbine runner 44 includes the usual vanes 47 and an inner annular wall member 48 constituting one of the core ring elements.

Adjacent its edges, the web 17 of stator element 16 has cylindrical faces 49, 50. The inner edge portion of wall 48 of the turbine runner is provided with an axially extending annular flange 51 having a cylindrical face disposed adjacent face 49 of the stator element, the flange 51 being suitably grooved to provide a labyrinth seal between the face 49 and flange 51. Similarly, the inner edge portion of wall 33 of the impeller is provided with an axially extending annular flange 52 adjacent face 59 of the stator element, the flange 52 having a cylindrical face suitably grooved to effect a labyrinth seal between the face 56 and flange 52. Thus, elements 17, 33 and 48 cooperate to define a hollow core ring about which the toroidal working circuit extends, the core ring being sealed except for the annular space between the outer edges of elements 33 and 4S.

Extending outwardly from web 17 of the stator into the interior of the core ring defined by elements 17, 33 and 48 are two axially spaced annular discs 54 and 55. In this embodiment the discs 54 and 55 are integral with web 17. It will be noted that the discs define a fluid passage separate from the interior of the core ring except for the annular opening defined by the peripheral portions of the discs adjacent the annular space 53 which communicates between the working circuit and the interior of the core ring.

The hub portion of the stator element 6 is provided with an annular chamber 56 connected to the space between discs 54 and 55 via radially directed ducts 57 extending through the stator vanes 18. The chamber 56 also communicateswith chamber ill, as via ports 58;

When the torque converter is in operation, the impeller 19 delivers fluid at high pressure to the turbine runner. There is thus an annular zone in the working circuit between the impeller and the turbine runner which is at a pressure distinctly higher than the pressure on the input side of the impeller. It will be noted that this annular high pressure zone is adjacent the space 53 and thus in direct communication with the interior of the core ring and the space between discs 54 and 55.

Threaded into portion 8 of member 4 in such manner as to communicate with chamber 13 is the discharge end of a combined venturi pump and T-connectc-r assembly. Also threaded into member but communicating with chamber 19, is a conduit 61. Conduit 61 is connected to a 3-way valve 62 and thence, depending upon the position of the valve, either to a sump 63 or, through a cooler 64, to the input of venturi pump 65. Venturi pump as is connected, via conduit 67, to draw liquid from sump 63. Fluid can also be delivered from sump 63 through assembly to chamber 13 by means of a positively driven pump 66.

Assuming it is desired to dump the torque converter during operation, valve 62 is adjusted to connect conduit 61 to sump 63. The high pressure zone at the output side of the impeller is t us connected via conduit 61 to atmospheric pressure at the sump, so that continued operation of the converter is effective to cause the hydraulic fluid to flow from the highpressure zone into thecore ring, be-

tween plates 54, 55, through ducts 5'7, chamber 5s, ports 58 and chamber 10, thence via conduit 61 to the sump. \Vhen it is desired to return hydraulic fluid to the working circuit, this is accomplished merely by operating pump 6%.

With valve 62 in position to connect conduit 61 to cooler 64, a closed fluid-conducting circuit is completed from the high pressure zone at the output side of the impeller, through the core ring, between plates 54, 55, through ducts 5'7, chamber 56, ports 58, chamber 19, thence via conduit 61, valve 62, cooler 64, venturi pump 65 and chamber 13 to the input side or" the impeller. The pressure difierential across the impeller is suflicient to cause the hydraulic fluid of the torque converter to flow continuously through the closed circuit just identified. Thus, the fluid is continuously cooled during operation of the converter.

As needed, additional hydraulic fluid can be introduced to the working circuit of the torque converter by the operation of the venturi pump, such pump being eff ctive to draw the fluid from the sump 63, via conduit 67 controlled by a manually operated valve 68. Thus, the construction above described takes advantage of the pressure differential across the impeller not only to circulate the liquid for cooling but also to operate venturi pump 65 as a makeup pump.

Since core ring defining elements 33 and 43 rotate, a centrifugal head is developed in the core ring whichtends to oppose the eflect of the pressure diflerential just mentioned. It is therefore advantageous to employ the discs 54 and 55, in the manner illustrated, to substantially isolate the closed circuit from the circulating fluid in the core ring. In this connection, it will be noted that the outer peripheries of the discs Edand 55 are positioned immediately adjacent to the space 53, so that fluid may flow directly from the pressure zone, at the impeller discharge, into the space between the discs. Circulating fluid within the core ring is substantially confined between disc 54 and element 48, and disc 55 and element 33.

In order to inhibit circular flow of fluid in the space between discs 54 and 55, it is advantageous to employ a plurality of radially extending, axially disposed webs 59 between the discs. Each web 59 has its side edges each connected to a diflerent one of the discs, so that the webs partition the space between the discs into a plurality of triangular chambers each communicating with a differcut one of the ducts 57.

While use of the discs 54 and 55 is highly advantageous, they may be omitted in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3. In such case, the effective pressure available to circulate fluid through the external circuit illustrated in FIG. 5 is naturally decreased, since the centrifugal head within the core ring now directly aifects the fluid flow inwardly through the core ring and duct 57. The modified embed? ment of PEG. 3 is, however, useful in many cases where high pressures are not required to effect tie desired flow of fluid in the external circuit.

in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 3, it will be noted that, while seals are provided between core ring elements 17, 33 and 48, the interior of the core ring is in direct communication with the working circuit via the space 53. In the modified form of the invention seen in FIG. 4, the interior of the core ring is completely sealed from the working circuit and fluid from the hi h pressure impeller discharge zone is admitted to the core ring via ducting in the turbine runner vanes. Thus, in addition to the two seals at 151 and 152, a labyrinth seal is provided between the outer edge portions of core ring elements 133 and 148, as seen at 165. The high pressure zone between the impeller and turbine runner is in communication, via annular space 146, with the chamber defined by shroud member 135 and outer wall 143 of the turbine runner. A plurality of ducts 153 are provided through the turbine runner blades, each such duct commencing adjacentportion 145 of wall 143 and having its inner end opening into the interior of the sealed core ring adjacent the outer peripheries of discs 154 and 155. The balance of the construction remains as illustrated in FIG. 1.

It is thus clear that, in this embodiment, fluid which is to flow from the high pressure impeller discharge zone to the external circuit travels first outwardly through space 146, then inwardly through ducts 153, and hence between discs 154 and 155 in the manner previously described.

It will be understood by those skilled in the torque converter art that various changes can be made in the device illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, while the invention has been illustrated as applied to a single stage torque converter, it is also applicable to multiple stage converters. Similarly, while the illustrated embodiment employs separate core ring defining elements each carried by a difierent one of the stator, impeller and runner elements, the core ring can be carried, for example, entirely by the stator.

I claim:

1. In a hydraulic torque converter, the combination of a plurality of hydrokinetic elements defining a closed generally toroidal working circuit and including an annular stator, an annular pump and an annular turbine; core ring means carried by at least one of said elements and defining a hollow core ring about which said working circuit extends, said stator being disposed radially inwardly of said core ring and said pump delivering fluid to said turbine in an annular high pressure zone of said Working circuit disposed outwardly of said stator across said core ring; the interior of said core ring communicating with said high pressure zone of said working circuit and said stator including duct means communicating with the interior of said core ring; fluid-conducting means for delivering fluid to the working circuit; and means defining a fluidconducting path via which fluid can be removed from the working circuit, said path including in series the interior of said core ring and said duct means of said stator, in which path fluid flow is induced by the difierential pressure between said high pressure zone of the working circuit and portions of said path beyond said duct means of said stator. v

2. A hydraulic torque converter in accordance with claim 1 and wherein said core ring means includes first and second cooperating annular core ring elements, one such element being carried by said impeller and one by said turbine runner, said elements including spaced annular edge portions and said communication between the interior of said core ring and said high pressure zone of said working circuit being via the space between said edge portions.

3. A hydraulic torque converter in accordance with claim 2 and wherein said core ring means also includes an annular'core ring element carried by said stator and including annular edge portions cooperating in fluidsealing relation with annular edge portions of said first and second annular core ring elements.

4. A hydraulic torque converter in accordance with claim 2 and further including fixed means carried by said stator and extending radially outwardly thereof in the interior of said hollow core ring, said means defining a fluid-conducting passage open at its outer end adjacent the space between said edge portions of said first and second elements and communicating with said duct means of said stator.

5. A hydraulic torque converter in accordance with claim 4 and wherein said fixed means comprises two axially spaced annular discoid elements.

6. A hydraulic torque converter in accordance with claim 5 and wherein said discoid elements are interconnected by a plurality of radially extending circumferentially spaced webs and said duct means of said stator includes a plurality of generally radial passages each opening to the space between different adjacent pairs of said webs.

7. In a hydraulic torque converter, the combination of a plurality of hydrokinetic elements defining a closed generally toroidal working circuit and including an annular stator, an annular pump and an annular turbine; core ring means carried by at least one of said elements and defining a hollow core ring about which said working circuit extends, said stator being disposed radially inwardly of said core ring and said pump delivering fluid to said turbine in an annular high pressure zone of said working circuit disposed outwardly of said stator across said core ring; the interior of said core ring communicating with said high pressure zone of said working circuit and said stator including duct means communicating with the interior of said core ring; and means defining a closed fluid-conducting circuit including in series the interior of said core ring, said duct means of said stator and additional fluid-connecting means communicating with said working circuit between said stator and impeller, in which closed circuit fluid flow is induced by the diflerential pressure between said high pressure zone of the working circuit and the input side of said impeller.

8. In a hydraulic torque converter, the combination of a plurality of hydrokinetic elements defining a closed generally toroidal working circuit and including an annular stator, an annular pump and an annular turbine; core ring means carried by at least one of said hydrokinetic elements and defining a hollow annular core ring about which said working circuit extends; said stator being disposed radially inwardly of said core ring and said pump delivering fluid to said turbine in an annular high pressure zone of said working circuit disposed outwardly of said stator across said core ring; means defining an annular chamber separate from said working circuit and disposed adjacent to said high pressure zone of said working circuit, said hi h pressure zone communicating with the interior of said chamber; conduit means interconnecting said chamber and the interior of said core ring, said stator being provided with duct means communicating with the interior of said core ring; fluid-conducting means for delivering fluid to said working circuit; and means defining afluid-conducting path via which fluid can be removed from the working circuit, said path including in series said conduit means, the interior of said core ring, said duct means of said stator, and additional fluid-conducting means communicating with said duct means of the stator, in which path fluid flow is induced by the pressure diiferential between said high pressure zone of the working circuit and the interior of said additional fluid-conducting means.

9. Li a hydraulic torque converter, the combination of a plurality of hydrokinetic elements including a stator, a pump and a turbine and cooperating to define a generally toroidal working circuit; core ring means carried by at least one of said hydrokinetic elements and defining a hollow core ring about which said working circuit extends, said stator being disposed radially inwardly of said core ring and said pump discharging fluid to said turbine in an annular high pressure zone of said working circuit disposed outwardly of said stator across said core ring; annular shroud means secured to said pump and surrounding said turbine to define a chamber a portion of which is adjacent said high pressure zone of said working circuit, the interior of said chamber portion communicating with said high pressure zone of said working circuit, an inner wall of said chamber being defined by said turbine, said turbine being provided with duct means interconnecting the interiors of said chamber portion and said core ring, whereby fluid at high pressure is admitted to the interior of said core ring from said high pressure zone of the working circuit via said chamber portion; said stator being provided with duct means communicating with the interior of said core ring; fluid-conducting means for delivering fluid to said working cir cuit; and means defining a fluid-conducting path via which fluid can be removed from the working circuit, said path including in series said duct means of said 4 turbine, the interior of said core ring, said duct means of said stator, and additional fluid-conducting means communicating with said duct means of said stator, in which path fluid flowis induced by the pressure differential be tween said high pressure zone of the working circuit and the interior of said additional fluid-conducting means.

A torque converter in accordance with claim 9 wherein said core ring means comprises at least one an nular rotary core ring element and an annular core ring element carried by said stator, and said stator is provided with fixed means extending outwardly in said core ring and defining a passage having an outer opening adja cent the discharge end of said turbine duct means and an inner opening communicating with said stator duct means.

11. A torque converter in accordance with claim 9 and wherein said core ring means comprises annular core ring elements each carried by a diiferent one of said hydrokinetic elements, said core ring elements having cooperatin'g edge portions constituting fluid seals substantially preventing entrance of fluid into said core ring from the working circuit other than via said turbine duct means.

12. A torque converter in accordance with claim 11 and wherein said stator is provided with fixed means extending outwardly in said core ring and defining a pas sage having an outer opening adjacent the discharge end of said turbine duct means and an inner opening communicating with said stator duct means.

13'. A torque converter in accordance with claim 9 and wherein said core ring means includes cooperating annular core ring elements carried by said pump and turbine, whereby a centrifugal fluid pressure head is developed within said core ring, during operation of the converter, which tends to reduce the effective pressure differential between the interior of said core ring and said high pressure zone of the working circuit, and said stator is provided with a plurality of fixed, annular, axially spaced, outwardly extending discoid elements, said stator duct means communicating with the space between said discoid elements, the outer peripheries of said discoid elementsbeing disposed adjacent the discharge end of said turbine duct' means.

14. As an article of manufacture, a stator for a hydraulic torque converter comprising a central hub, an annular web spaced concentrically outwardly of said hub, generally radially extending vanes fixed between said hub and saidweb, and a pair of transversely extending, axially spaced, annular, discoid elements having their inner peripheries joined to said web, said stator being provided with at least one interior duct communicating with the space between said discoidelements.

15. A stator constructed in accordance with claim 14 and wherein said web includes end portions extending axially beyond said discoid elements, said end portions having cylindrical outer surfaces.

16. In a hydraulic torque converter, the combination of input and output shafts, a fixedmember provided'with a bore through which one of said shafts extends, a stator element mounted on said member, a pump and a turbine operatively associated with said stator element to define therewith a generally toroidal working circuit, core ring means carried by at least one of said stator, pump and turbine and defining a hollow core ring about which said working circuit extends, said stator being dis posed inwardly of said' core ring and said pump delivering. fluid to said turbine in an annular high pressure zone of said Working circuit disposed outwardly of said stator across said core ring, said fixed member being provided with at first chamber andthe bore of said fixed member and'said one shaft defining a second chamber, said'first chamber being in communication with said working circuit at a point between said stator and the input side of said pump, the interior of said core ring being in (30.1 munication with said high pressure zone of the working circuit, said-stator" being provided with duct means com- VII municating between the interior of said core ring and said second chamber, and means external to'said working circuit interconnecting said chambers to complete a closed fluid-conducting circuit in which fluid flow is induced by the pressure differential in the working circuit'betweenthe input side of said pump and said high pressure zone;

l7.-In a hydraulic torque converter, the combination of input and output shafts; a fixedmember having atubular shank concentric with one of said shafts, said fixed member'including a chamber; a plurality of hydrokinetic elements disposed to define a generally toroidal'wvork'ing' circuit concentric with said shafts, said elements including a stator, an annular pump and an annular turbine; core ring means carried by at least one of said hydrokinetic elements anddefining a hollow core ring about which said working circuit extends; said stator being mounted on the shank of said fixed member inwardly of said core ring,- and said pump delivering fluid from an annular relatively low pressure zone in said working circuit to an annular relatively high pressure zone disposed outwardly of the stator across said core ring, the interior of said core ring communicating with said high pressure zone and said stator being provided with duct means communicating with the interior of said core ring, and fluid-conduct ng means external of said working circuit and interconnecting said stator duct means and said chamber, said chamber communicating with said low pressure zone of the working circuit.

18. In a hydraulic torque converter, the combination of a plurality of hydrokinetic elements defining a generally toroidal working circuit, said elements including a stator, an annular pump and an annular turbine; a plurality of annular core ring elements each carried by a diflerent one of said hydrokinetic elements and cooperating to define a hollow core ring about which said working circuit extends, said stator being disposed inwardly of said core ring and said pump delivering fiuid from an annular low pressure zone in the working circuit to' an annular high pressure zone disposed outwardly of the stator across said core ring; the adjacent edge portions of said annular core ring elements cooperating to provide fluid seals separating the interior of said core ring. from said Working circuit; annular shroud means connected to said pump and spaced outwardly of saidt-urbine to define with said turbine an annular chamber having' a portion disposed outwardly of said high pressure zone, said turbine being provided with duct means interconnecting said portion of said annular chamber and the interior of saidcore ring, said stator being provided with duct means" communicating with the interior of said core ring; and fluid-conducting rn eans external to said working circuit and connected to deliver fluid from said stator duct means to said low pressure zone of the working circuit.

19'. in a hydraulic torque converter, the combinationof input and output shafts; a fixed member having a bore concentric with one of said shafts and a chamber disposed outwardly of said bore; a plurality of vaned hydrokinetic elements cooperating to define a generally toroidal working circuit concentric with said shafts, said hydrokinetic elements including a stator, a pump and a turbine,- said stator being secured to said fixed member, core ring means carried by at least one of said hydrokinetic elements and cooperating to define a hollow core ring. about which said working circuit extends, said stator being. disposed inwardly of said core ring and said pump delivering fluid from an annular low pressure zone of the working circuit to an annular high pressure zone disposed outwardly of said stator across'said core ring, the. interior of said core ring communicating withsaid high pressure zone and said chamber of said fixed member communicating with said low pressure zone, said stator being provided with a plurality of outwardly extending ducts opening into the interior of'said core ring; and fluid-conducting means external of said working circuit and interconnecting said chamber and the inner ends of said stator ducts to complete a closed hydraulic circuit extending through said core ring and in which fluid flow is induced by the pressure difierential between said high pressure zone and said low pressure zone.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,938,357 Sinclair Dec. 5, 1933 2,149,369 Sinclair Mar. 7, 1939 2,168,862 Sensaud de Lav aud Aug. 8, 1939 2,245,684 Kiep June 17, 1941 2,436,034 Buehler Feb. 17, 1948 10 Trail Nov. 16, 1948 Jandasek et a1. Dec. 7, 1954 Zeidler May 15, 1956 Jandasek Aug. 6, 1957 Dundore et a1 Nov. 29, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Sept. 22, 1925 France Nov. 7, 1951 France Feb. 4, 1957 Germany Sept. 18, 1958 

1. IN A HYDRAULIC TORQUE CONVERTER, THE COMBINATION OF A PLURALITY OF HYDROKINETIC ELEMENTS DEFINING A CLOSED GENERALLY TOROIDAL WORKING CIRCUIT AND INCLUDING AN ANNULAR STATOR, AN ANNULAR PUMP AND AN ANNULAR TURBINE; CORE RING MEANS CARRIED BY AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS AND DEFINING A HOLLOW CORE RING ABOUT WHICH SAID WORKING CIRCUIT EXTENDS, SAID STATOR BEING DISPOSED RADIALLY INWARDLY OF SAID CORE RING AND SAID PUMP DELIVERING FLUID TO SAID TURBINE IN AN ANNULAR HIGH PRESSURE ZONE OF SAID WORKING CIRCUIT DISPOSED OUTWARDLY OF SAID STATOR ACROSS SAID CORE RING; THE INTERIOR OF SAID CORE RING COMMUNICATING WITH SAID HIGH PRESSURE ZONE OF SAID WORKING CIRCUIT AND SAID STATOR INCLUDING DUCT MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID CORE RING; FLUID-CONDUCTING MEANS FOR DELIVERING FLUID TO THE WORKING CIRCUIT; AND MEANS DEFINING A FLUIDCONDUCTING PATH VIA WHICH FLUID CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE WORKING CIRCUIT, SAID PATH INCLUDING IN SERIES THE INTERIOR OF SAID CORE RING AND SAID DUCT MEANS OF SAID STATOR, IN WHICH PATH FLUID FLOW IS INDUCED BY THE DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE BETWEEN SAID HIGH PRESSURE ZONE OF THE WORKING CIRCUIT AND PORTIONS OF SAID PATH BEYOND SAID DUCT MEANS OF SAID STATOR. 